BEIJING -- A cold front will continue to chill most of southern China, with strong winds and temperature drops in the next couple of days, the national observatory said Saturday.

The National Meteorological Center (NMC) forecast temperatures to fall by four degrees Celsius in most of southern China from Saturday night to Sunday due to north winds sweeping across the region.

Strong north winds will sweep the eastern and southern coast, and some areas in central and eastern China will see temperatures two to five degrees Celsius lower compared to the same period last year, said the NMC.

Meanwhile, southwest China's Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces will have snow or sleet until Monday, with heavy snowfall expected in some places.

The NMC has advised residents to take precautions against the cold weather and icy roads.